Patina Pups – The Heddels Guide to High-Quality Dog Wear

From Cordura leads to Waxed Tin Cloth beds, we‘re looking at the world of high-quality canine clothing and accessories.

James Smith

In my opinion, owning a dog is one of the most joyous, fun, and enriching things you can do in life. They can provide unconditional love and companionship that is hard to find elsewhere in the modern world, as well as providing practical and mental support in a multitude of scenarios.

I’m not alone in my love of dogs. They’re the most popular pet in the USA, with over 65 million households owning one or more pooches. Ownership statistics are similar in Canada, too. That’s a lot of dogs. And with a lot of dogs comes a lot of dog accessories — leads, collars, beds, and the like. Sadly, most dog products are made cheaply, designed to serve a purpose until they perish, ready to be replaced with an equally cheap product – just like lots of modern commerce markets.

At Heddels, we believe in the concept of owning things you want to use forever, and not just when it comes to clothes and shoes. We’ve covered categories like cast-iron skillets, knives, and even Persian rugs in the past, but today, it’s all about dog gear.

Why Invest in High-Quality Dog Wear?

The answer to this question is the same as why we know it’s worth investing in a high-quality pair of jeans, boots, or a jacket. Or anything for that matter. Owning fewer, better things that you will use more and grow to cherish will lead to better outcomes for both yourself and the environment. This mantra is the case of dog wear, accessories, and equipment.

In my experience, most of the dog products in mainstream pet stores are perishable and not really that attractive. A quick look at Petco shows the above leashes as one of the top sellers. On the left is an extendable leash ($24.99 and up), which I have personal experience with and would not recommend. It’s a simple extending mechanism in a plastic casing with plastic buttons to operate the mechanism; however, the design allows for rainwater and dirt to get inside that mechanism, causing it to rot and become brittle and prone to snapping. Not great!

On the right, a ($23.99) leash with an admittedly cute design made from polyester webbing – a material that is not as strong as nylon webbing like Cordura. This one will last a couple of years, but let me tell you, most of those hearts are coming off after a few months of decent dog walking, and the leash will be more prone to fraying and tearing, especially if you own a larger breed.

Heading over to PetSmart, these are the two best-selling regular dog accessories. At the bottom is a best-selling Top Paw leash offering similar qualities to the heart leash above. I can’t see whether it’s polyester or nylon webbing, but with a $6-14.99 starting price, it won’t be of the highest quality. Not the worst, but far from best. At the top right, a Kong leash ($24.99 and up) with a stronger ‘chew-resistant’ webbing that will certainly outlive the Top Paw offering. Kong gear is okay, but this has plastic buckles. Step on those, or let Rex get his teeth on them, and they will crack and split. Plastic certainly isn’t chew-resistant.

The same goes for almost every dog product. Most mall store beds are made from cheap polyester, which will look dull and flat over time, not to mention being no match for your dog’s claws if they’re a digger.

In my view, all of this stuff is the four-legged equivalent of the fast fashion industry: cheap, mass-produced products that will end up in landfill, taking generations or more to biodegrade (if at all). There are better ways to invest in higher-quality, mindfully produced dog gear that you and your pooches will use for much longer. I understand that some folks are financially challenged and access to highly-affordable equipment is absolutely necessary for society, but if you can afford to invest more money in your dogs’ wares, it’s worth it.

With all this considered, let’s take a look at some of the top-quality canine goods out there.

Collar

Pigeon Tree

When it comes to dog collars, you can’t really get much better than a well-tooled leather collar that will last and build patina over time. Pigeon Tree‘s dog accessories are handmade in Georgia and come in a range of leathers, including veg-tan and Horween chromexcel.

But it’s not just about the leather; it’s the hardware, too. Pigeon Tree fitted these good boys with a solid brass buckle and branded rivets, meaning they’re tough as nails. Each collar is made to the same exacting standards as the brand’s esteemed belts. That means beveled edges treated with beeswax and a choice of standard or teardrop holes. If that wasn’t enough, Pigeon Tree even offers you the option of a hand-stamped name tag to go with it.

Available from Pigeon Tree from $50.

Tanner Goods

If you want an even wider choice of colors, Tanner Goods‘ Canine collar is another high-quality collar. Leather and metal are a match made in heaven when it comes to durability, and this combo of English Bridle Leather and brass or stainless steel (depending on colorway) won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, so choose wisely!

I honestly feel like these, and the Pigeon Tree collars above are practically forever collars, so whilst they’re a bit more on the expensive side, they’ll be with your pup for their whole lives and be ready to be passed onto another dog when the time comes. Dog’s coats are also full of natural oils, which will naturally condition the leather and form a unique patina. It’s a win-win.

Available from Tanner Goods from $85.

Blackthorn Leather

One-man brand, Blackthorn Leather, also offers some sturdy and well-crafted canine collars. Each one is crafted in California by Andy at Blackthorn, using Wickett & Craig leather, solid brass hardware, and hand-peened copper rivets. You can even request an engraved leather name tag.

Available for $45 from Blackthorn Leather.

Carhartt

If you’re vegan or you have a hairless dog, i.e., Chinese Crested or Xoloitzcuintle, a leather collar may not be suitable. If that’s the case, Carhartt is a fantastic option. The classic American workwear brand offers a few collars that are well-made, leather-free, and affordable. Shown above are two options, the left being made from reflective-striped nylon, woven in the same way as duck canvas, and the right being made from classic heavy cotton duck canvas with blanket lining/coating for comfort.

You already know Carhartt’s stuff is bomb-proof, and the fact that these come built with metal hardware means there is some serious durability for your buck, here. And at just $24.99, they’re just $2 more than the Petco collars discussed at the beginning of this guide.

You can see all the Carhartt canine goods over at Carhartt.

Cobra

If you use a Fi tracking device for your dog and still want a collar that’s hard as nails, Cobra has you covered. This collar is made from mil-spec 500-denier Cordura reinforced with bar tacks and comes with aluminum hardware, which includes a housing for your Fi device (both series 2 & 3). Clever stuff.

Available from Alpinhound for $59.95.

Leashes

Tanner Goods

Tanner Goods makes Canine Leashes, too, all with the same specs as the Canine Collars — made in the USA from English Bridle Leather with brass or stainless steel hardware, depending on color. Each Canine Leash comes embossed with Tanner Goods’ logo and can be configured in 3 lengths – 31″, 39″, and 57″.

Available at Tanner Goods for $125.

Macundo Belts

If you want something a bit more flamboyant than the other leashes in this guide, Macundo Belts is here with its Gitana Dog Leash. Handcrafted in Colombia, this 4 ft leash is made from water buffalo leather and comes with brass-plated hardware and a unique woven design that adds a level of flair and charm to the piece.

Available from Manready Mercantile for $59.

Pigeon Tree

It would be a crime if Pigeon Tree didn’t allow you to match their Dog Collars with an equally well-crafted Leash. Thankfully, there are no charges to answer, here, ‘cos the Georgia-based brand makes these 5″ Leashes to order in a choice of 1″ and 3/4″ widths. Each Leash is built with brass hardware and rivets and comes with an embossed Pigeon Tree logo near the handle.

Available at Pigeon Tree from $45.

Comfort: Coats, Jumpers, Beds

Carhartt

Yeah, there’s a theme here. Carhartt’s work jackets are arguably the most iconic out there, and your dog can get in on the action, too. Made from the brand’s proprietary duck canvas, this Dog Chore Coat comes with a corduroy collar and velcro strap to secure it to your dog’s midriff. The patch pocket — which includes a woven Carhartt tag – is one of the cutest doggy details in this guide, and the triple-stitched detail tops off this piece, which balances functionality and novelty with aplomb.

This is another piece of dog gear I have personal experience with, and I can confirm, it’s an absolute banger. Pictured below is my Bichon Frise in his black edition of this Carhartt Coat. Also visible is the aforementioned, highly perishable extendable leash from the start of this article, which you can see had frayed to the point of almost splitting. Don’t worry, it’s since been replaced.

Available from Carhartt for $54.99

Naked Cashmere

A shivering dog is a sad sight, and sometimes it’s so cold that a coat isn’t enough. If your dog is in need of a top for added warmth, something like this Cable Dog Sweat by Naked Cashmere is what you should be aiming for.

Made from 100% pure cashmere, this Cable Knit Sweat is just like boujee human sweaters, but knitted for dogs of all shapes and sizes. Whilst I can’t trace where this specific knit is made, the cashmere construction will make it incredibly comfy and the knit looks to be of high quality.

You can pick up comparable sweats made from pure wool on Etsy and other vendors. The main benefit of this style is that it is easily repairable —you can likely hand darn something like this using the technique outlined in this article.

Available from Naked Cashmere for $130.

L.L. Bean

That said, L.L. Bean is offering up this decent-looking dog bed in ‘vintage indigo’ cotton twill. Whilst L.L. Bean isn’t boasting about the quality of the insert, it can be replaced by the brand at an affordable price if it does wear down. L.L. Bean has a reputation for good quality, though, and at over $100 with tons of decent reviews, I imagine this is a good mid-range bed in a handsome material.

Available from $109 at L.L. Bean.

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